Favour: The Passport to Greatness

Author: Ayodeji Oludapo

Date: October 5, 2024

Scripture: "For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favour, You will surround him as with a shield." — Psalm 5:12 (NKJV)

Devotional Thoughts

In our world, when we need to travel to a different country, a passport is essential. It gives us access to places beyond our borders and allows us to enter into new lands. In the spiritual realm, favour is like a passport. It opens doors that no man can shut, grants us opportunities we didn’t earn, and ushers us into greatness that only God can orchestrate.

Favour is not just about material blessings or success. It is about divine endorsement—God putting His stamp of approval on your life. With this heavenly approval, you can navigate through challenges, barriers, and limitations that would ordinarily hold you back. When God’s favour is upon you, you find yourself walking through doors you didn’t knock on, sitting at tables you weren’t invited to, and receiving blessings you didn’t ask for.

Look at the life of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers, wrongly accused, and thrown into prison. But despite all the obstacles he faced, the favour of God was upon him. Genesis 39:21 says, "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Even in his lowest moments, Joseph was marked for greatness, and favour was the passport that led him from the prison to the palace.

In the same way, Esther, an ordinary Jewish girl, found favour with King Xerxes and became queen (Esther 2:17). It wasn’t her beauty alone that opened the door—it was the favour of God. This favour positioned her to save her people, showing that God’s favour is not just for personal advancement but also for divine purpose.

Practical Reflection

Sometimes, we try to rely on our strengths, abilities, and connections to get ahead in life. While hard work and diligence are important, they are no substitutes for divine favour. Favour brings a supernatural dimension to your efforts, multiplying your outcomes beyond what you could achieve on your own.

Think of situations in your life where you’ve seen unexpected doors open or received help when you didn’t even ask. That is a glimpse of God’s favour at work. However, favour doesn’t mean life will always be easy. There may be challenges and delays, but God’s favour ensures that His purposes for your life will be fulfilled.

To position ourselves to walk in favour, we must live a life of integrity, humility, and obedience. Psalm 84:11 says, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless." While none of us are perfect, God honours a heart that seeks after Him.

Closing Thoughts

Remember, just as a passport grants you access to new lands, the favour of God grants you access to greatness. It is a key that unlocks divine opportunities, places of influence, and blessings that are beyond human reach. Keep trusting in God’s favour, and let it guide you on the journey to fulfilling His purpose in your life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the favour that surrounds me like a shield. Help me to walk in integrity and humility, trusting that Your favour will open doors and lead me into the greatness You’ve prepared for me. I ask that You position me for divine opportunities, not just for my benefit, but to fulfill Your will in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.